by Jon Bender
She started to bow, stopping herself to bring her fist to her breast plate in a military salute. Corin returned the gesture of respect before she turned to leave the two men and see to the disposition of the cavalry she was to lead. As she walked away to where her horse had been hobbled, she knew she had made the right decision in joining the fight to defend the kingdom.
Chapter 25
As Da’san walked down the halls of the palace, armed men in the blue uniforms of the Guard walked about in groups of six with many more at the palace walls. Many of those who had been at the edge of the city had been called back since the enemy was already within the outer wall. The sun had set over two hours ago, and everyone within the palace were ready as was possible. The staff had sealed themselves away in their quarters with any not needed being asked to leave. Passing by an open sitting room he saw three mages talking to one another quietly, and taking no notice of him as he continued on. Nimis had returned hours before with almost the full complement of fifty mages left in the city. To counter the possibility of traitors, they would work in small groups reducing the chance that any one mage could cause havoc unchecked. Da’san had also brought almost seventy of his fellow priests from many of the temples, most being followers of Sarinsha as they had been the easiest to convince with his story. He did not know how many would join in the fight but all had agreed to heal the wounded.
Moving to an outer courtyard he found the steps leading to the ramparts of the wall. Cribble and Jerup were looking out over the main gate which had now been sealed and barred. “They are getting ready to attack,” Cribble said.
Da’san looked out onto the empty street and saw nothing but darkness. “I do not see anything,” he replied.
“That’s the point, the lamps have been going out all along the roads, it won’t be long,” Jerup said.
To prove his point a wave of men and women stepped from the shadows, some armed with true weapons but most carrying clubs and make shift spears. Da’san guessed their numbers to be more than two thousand, and at the center stood several dark robed figures. As two of the dark priests stepped forward they raised their hands creating a large sphere of impenetrable blackness, and out of the sphere stepped a creature of shadow as tall and wide as a house. Taking large steps the creature ambled its way towards the gate. A ball of fire the size of a man’s head flew from the wall on Da’san’s right striking the creature in the center of its chest. It staggered back a step, but only for a moment as the hole created by the blast began to close. More flames and now other forms of magic came flying from the walls, but this time many were countered midair by the prayers of the dark priest. A small twister formed on the street moving towards the attackers only to be stopped by a wall of force before it could tear through their ranks.
Back and forth the magical combat went with those on the wall often overpowering the dark priest’s defenses, but it wasn’t enough to stop the shadow creature from reaching the gate. Looking down he saw it bring both arms, now shaped in the form of large hammers, against the gate shaking the wall beneath his feet. Knowing from experience that those in service to Or’Keer were weakened by light Da’san began praying and formed a giant glowing ball above the creature. Flinching away from magic the creature brought its massive arms up to defend against the bright intrusion. The reprieve however was short lived as dark spheres soon overwhelmed the light snuffing it from existence. The banging resumed and he could hear the wood splintering and then the loud clanging on the iron portcullis behind. Changing tactics, Da’san’s prayer manifesting into two large glowing hands which grabbed the thick arms pulling it away. They too were countered as long black tentacles shot from the ground to pry the hands away, dragging them down to completely envelop them in a crushing grip. Several more strikes and the portcullis crashed inward to land with a loud crash in the court yard.
The sound acted as a signal to those outside, with a cry from hundreds of lungs they ran forward headed for the breached gate. Arrows began flying from the walls landing among them taking many down but not slowing their charge. Once inside the shadow creature was no longer under the protection of the priests who had created it. Magic assailed it from all sides as fire, ice, and stone tore it apart before it could reach the men placed to hold the courtyard. Stone began to rise and seal the hole the creature had created, but the tentacles once again appeared flinging over the top and stopping its upward motion. The makeshift army reached the breach and rushed through to be met by the Guard below. Armored men with true weapons would normally have been more than a match for such a group, but dark shapes flowed throughout the fight striking down the Guard before they saw them. It was soon apparent that they could not hold the courtyard for long and shortly after the initial clash a horn blew calling for retreat into the palace itself.
A hand grabbed him forcing him to look at the owner. “We must go,” Cribble yelled. Turning to run down the top of the wall with Jerup right on his heels, he led them to an exit that would take them out somewhere else in palace.
Following the Captain he looked over the wall one more time to see the dark priests walking to the gate. The retreating mages continued to throw magic into the courtyard to offer cover for the Guard to fall back, striking down dozens of the attackers and even a few of the shades. Moving into a tight stone staircase Cribble led them through a series of twist and turns before they came out in a hall within the palace. The Guard who had been with them on the wall ran past to circle around to the main entrance of the palace with two mages and one of Da’san’s brothers following closely behind.
Cribble went in a different direction and Da’san berated himself for not learning the layout better beforehand. Following the captain they went up two flights of stairs and down another hall until they stopped at a balcony above the fighting in the grand hall. Below was more of what had happened in the courtyard, men and women carrying makeshift weapons being quickly cut down but still providing enough distraction to allow the shades to move freely about. Da’san even seeing many smaller groups splitting away from the fight to run through doors which would take them deeper into the palace.
“You will be most effective here, but we have to go.” Cribble said. He was right, Da’san could see on other parts of the balcony surrounding the great room mages flinging magic down into the fray. One Storm mage who had just released a flash of lightning was ripped from his place by a tentacle and thrown to the floor below.
“Good luck,” Jerup said. Cribble nodding the sentiment as well before the two men took off at a run to a set of stairs that led downward.
Turning back Da’san began to pray and finding his first target a dark priest throwing daggers of shadow to great effect. The shadow made blades taking down several of the Guard and injuring a mage who was not quick enough to defend himself. Speaking the last word of his prayer, Da’san lifted the priest from the ground in a grip of force. Still able to speak the priest began to chant but before he could finish his prayer Da’san flung him to a wall. His prayer completed midair he did not impact as expected, great black wings sprouting from his back flapping hard and stopping the collision. Turning in the air he looked up to smile victoriously at Da’san. Just as another dagger formed in his hand a shaft of ice slammed into his chest pinning him to the wall he had just moments before avoided.
Not giving the dead priest another thought he saw that a group of attackers and a shade had cornered three of the Guard against the wall. Chanting as quickly as possible Da’san released a shout of power at the enemy throwing them back leaving only the shade who had kept his feet. Taking their chance the Guard rushed forward to overwhelm the shade in a flurry of attacks leaving him unmoving on the ground as they advanced on the downed men and women.
The ground shook as a golem pulled itself from the ground tearing into the enemy ranks swinging club arms and crushing any in its way. A cheer went up from the defenders as it pushed the attackers back to the double door, momentarily stemming the flood of attackers who were pourin
g through. It was a short lived victory as another shadow creature formed to meet the stone giant. The two titans clashed in the center of the room taking and receiving mighty blows until the golem was swarmed by tentacles and shades overwhelming it. Things only got worse from there as fire started landing amongst the Guard killing half a dozen in seconds. Finding the source of the attack he spotted a red robed woman amongst the shadow priests who looked up to meet his gaze. Raising her hand she prepared to cast her deadly magic and Da’san began to pray quickly, knowing it was already too late as the mage had no need to request power from another being. The marble railing in front of him exploded throwing him back against a wall to land on his side, and he could feel warmth running down his back. Laying on his side Da’san could see mages casting furiously from other parts of the balcony, a fire mage was struck in the shoulder by ice while the storm mage beside him was slapped back by a tentacle. Hearing the sounds of the fighting continue there was a long blow of a horn sounding further retreat deeper into the palace, and that was when the world faded away to grey… then black.
Chapter 26
Jaxom sat next to a small fire opposite Corin who was poking at it with a stick stirring the coals. His risen fire and ice mage stood nearby motionless like flesh statues watching over them. Corin had been impressed that the mages had retained the ability to cast and had asked for demonstrations of their abilities. When Serin discovered what Jaxom had done, he demanded that the risen be destroyed, stating that mages should not be disgraced in such a manner. He appeared truthful in his indignation but Jaxom felt as if there was another reason he wished them destroyed, choosing instead not to speak of it. After Jaxom refused, the mage’s leader had stormed off in anger, but did not bring the matter up again.
Adriana was sleeping next to him curled into a small blanket, she and Brenin had been alternating the responsibility of watching the Southerners. Jaxom was sleeping himself when she had returned with her most recent update and he had been unable to return to it, a problem that Corin seemed to share. Adriana had said that the enemy had not stopped their advance yet, continuing to march through the early evening. Corin had not seemed concerned thinking it likely they would get as close as possible to keep an eye on the Ale’adarian army, insuring that Corin did not have any surprise maneuvers waiting for them. The invaders had consolidated the whole of their force on the march allowing the two scouts to get a full and accurate count. They were now sure that there was no more than sixty-five thousand, a little less than what was originally reported but still outnumbering them.
“I have been giving some thought to your request,” Corin said breaking the silence.
Jaxom looked up confused at the sudden statement. “What request is that?” he asked.
“To restore the city in the north as a place where you and this Alimar can train more death mages,” he said.
“I am glad to hear that, but is it not something we should discuss after we win. Alimar was clear that we do not have his allegiance yet,” Jaxom replied.
“We will win because we have to,” Corin said. “So there is no harm in talking about what comes next. The mage war set the law that mages can no longer rule as Kings or Queens, but I think there may be a way to avoid the wrath of other Kingdoms and mages while still allowing you what you want.”
Jaxom leaned forward now interested in what his friend’s idea was. “So how would this plan of yours work?” he asked.
“Not yet, I have not worked out all the details, and I don’t want to get your hopes up,” Corin said smiling.
“You can be a real bastard sometimes you know that?” Jaxom said leaning back in exasperation.
“Yes, and the one ability that truly separates you from other mages is how you put up with me,” he said laughing.
Jaxom was about to respond with some unpleasant statements regarding his personality but was interrupted by a loud flapping of wings above them, shortly after Brenin landed close by, waking Adriana from her sleep. Jumping down quickly from the durgen he ran to Corin who was now standing and gave a salute.
“Your majesty the Southerners are not stopping for the night, they will be here shortly,” Brenin said.
Adriana now fully awake at the news was standing next to Jaxom, her fingers interlacing his in a tight grip. The enemy was attacking in the open at night which was not something normally done. The confusion that would ensue could easily cost them their advantage in numbers, or it could do the same for Corin’s army meaning a crushing defeat with no chance of an organized retreat. The enemy had decided that the war would be won or lost on this single battle.
“Find all the fire mages you can and tell them to light the largest fires they can as far in front of the line as possible. Tell the earth mages they are to drop trenches shortly in front of their positions, but the fires are the priority,” Corin said.
Brenin slapped his fist to his chest and looked to Adriana. “If you take the left flank this will go much faster,” he said. Adriana nodded and gave Jaxom’s hand one more squeeze before grabbing her bow and moving to her own Durgen.
“The Southerners are about to find out they have made a large mistake,” Corin said. “Alert the men to ready themselves,” he said to one of his nearby guards. The man brought a horn to his lips and blew a long note followed by two shorter ones. Throughout the army the notes where repeated, until Jaxom could hear them half a mile away in either direction. No sooner had the last horn faded away did the first large fireballs arc out into the sky landing two hundred feet in the direction of the enemy, the fires continuing to burn once they had reached the ground.
Jaxom climbed up onto the saddle of his horse as his risen mages climbed onto theirs. Corin had not been keen on giving horses to them, but Jaxom had convinced him they would be more effective if they were better able to see. Around him Corin’s personal guard of two hundred men were forming up, their only job in this fight being to protect the King. Walking the horse over to his friend he reached down offering his hand to the blond man. “Good luck Corin,” Jaxom said. Gripping his hand firmly, Corin nodded before turning to speak with the first arriving messenger.
Jaxom rode out beyond the encircling guard headed for the center where he had decided to make his stand. As he approached he saw several lords and officers riding behind the rows of spear and swordsmen shouting final orders. What caught his eye was a figure who was sitting astride his horse in robes, unable to make out the man or the color of his robes he rode up beside him. As he got closer he found Darian staring out over the line of men to the burning fires, not noticing Jaxom’s approach. “Good evening Darian, I did not know you would be here,” Jaxom said causing the man to jump.
“Jaxom you startled me,” he said looking over. “I switched with the storm mage who was here. I knew you would want to be at the center when it started and thought it would be good to fight beside you again.”
“What about Danika?” Jaxom asked. He knew that there was an interest between the two of them and had thought they would want to be nearer each other.
“She is with her brother on the left, we all agreed that one of us should be with you when this starts, and I offered to be the one,” Darian said. “I see you still have the two… captured mages with you,” he said looking to the fire and ice mage behind Jaxom.
“Yes we will be needing them soon I’m afraid,” Jaxom replied. He was glad to have the other mage with him but did not understand why they had thought one of them should remain with him.
“You don’t suppose I could…” Darian said looking at the other ice mage he had killed.
Jaxom chuckled to himself while commanding the risen mage in question to move next to Darian and follow his commands. “He will be slower to respond with spoken orders, but I guess if it will make you feel safer,” he said.
“It is not about feeling safe,” Darian replied. “I simply like being able to cast twice the amount of ice. It is like he is another set of hands wielding my magic,” he said with a mock evil
smile.
Jaxom was going to remark on how his thirst for power would be his undoing, but just then long blows of signal horns announced the enemy army’s arrival. Looking over the top of the soldier’s heads he could see the Southerners approaching the flames. He would once again have to be closer than he was now for his magic to be affective and decided that being mounted among all those on foot would only single him out for attack. Climbing down from the saddle, Jaxom drew his enchanted sword feeling the power pulsating within the steel blade from the barely contained energy held there. Corin thought he had lost his mind when he had instructed his risen fire mage to throw fireballs directly at him. The look on his friends face had been priceless as the first ball of flame had sped towards Jaxom only to disappear once it met the sword. After the eleventh flaming cast had been absorbed he could feel that the sword would hold no more. Eleven fireballs was not very many when it came to a pitched battle such as this, but it was more than he ever had before.
Walking forward he left the risen mage where she was, with the general command to protect the soldiers from enemy casts. With every step bones flew from the earth attaching themselves to his body quickly encasing him in a shell of white armor. Reaching the rear ranks, he worked his way among the men as they stepped aside some saluting as he passed. The talk had flown once they had returned to the camp, the men speaking of the mage who held the line with the common soldiers sharing in the same risk. He thought it funny that not too long ago most of these men would have avoided him at all costs. All it had taken to earn their respect was to put himself in mortal danger. He wondered what dying tonight would get him, maybe they would tell stories over a mug of ale, recounting of the first mage to ever stand as one of them. The morbid notion brought a smile to his face and he could feel his stride strengthen with purpose. Well they would just have to tell stories about him for another reason. He had every intention of walking away from this mess and his smile only deepened at the thought. It must have been a very unpleasant look because men began to shuffle out of his way quickly.
